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Nicolas Jackson is reportedly keen to stay at Chelsea this summer, despite growing interest from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and possible admirers in La Liga. The Senegal forward wants to show his value at Stamford Bridge as the club moves into a new chapter under manager Xabi Alonso.

Jackson opts to remain in London

According to The Sun, Chelsea striker Jackson is prepared to fight for his future at Stamford Bridge despite strong interest from Aston Villa and a number of clubs in Spain. The 25-year-old attacker has rejoined the Blues setup after their pre-season tour of Asia, where he was reportedly highly impressed by the working methods of new head coach Alonso.

With the transfer market expected to intensify in the closing days of the window, Jackson's present position sends a firm message to the Chelsea hierarchy. Unlike last summer, when the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro pushed him down the pecking order and left him battling for places on the bench, the former Villarreal player now believes he can have an important role.

Unai Emery still interested

In spite of Jackson's wish to remain in London, Aston Villa continue to pose a serious challenge in the pursuit of his signature. Unai Emery has long made no secret of his admiration for the Senegal forward, having been the coach who first handed him his breakthrough chance in European football.

Villa Park is not the only source of outside interest, with an unnamed leading Spanish club also making formal enquiries about the striker's availability. As the transfer window nears its end, those clubs are keeping a close watch on developments and are ready to act if Chelsea choose to go in another direction.

Jackson's path from Stamford Bridge to Munich

Jackson signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2023 from Spanish club Villarreal in a deal reported to be worth £32 million, agreeing to an eight-year contract. However, he found it difficult to fully establish himself in the starting side, making 81 appearances for the Blues, scoring 30 goals and registering 12 assists.

Last summer, he was loaned out to Bayern Munich. During his time in Germany, he featured in 34 matches, scored 11 goals and provided four assists, helping the club complete a domestic league and cup double, although Bayern eventually chose not to make the move permanent.

International return and upcoming fixtures

During his spell with Chelsea, Jackson won both the UEFA Conference League in the 2024–25 season and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The forward has returned to London after international duty with Senegal at this summer's World Cup, where his team were knocked out in the Round of 32 by Belgium, although he did provide an assist in their match against Norway.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are continuing their pre-season build-up and will face Real Sociedad in a friendly on Saturday. The Blues will then begin their Premier League season with an away match against Fulham on August 24.